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Salary comparison

Lawyers vs. Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers: Who Earns More?

Lawyerss out-earn Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss by $101K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Lawyerss land at $159,670 and Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss at $58,650. The education gap is real: lawyer programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while title examiners, abstractors, and searcher programs require doctoral or professional degree. Top-paying state for Lawyerss is New York ($207,860); for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss it's Colorado ($77,600).

Lawyers
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Median salary
$159,670
$58,650
Hourly rate
$76.76/hr
$28.2/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$78,360
$38,170
Senior level (90th %)
$351,600
$90,830
Education required
Doctoral or professional degree
Doctoral or professional degree
U.S. employment
754,500
48,580
Job growth (10-year)
5%
N/A
Category
Legal
Legal
Top-paying state
New York
Colorado

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Lawyers median pay.

State
Lawyers
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
California
$195,080
$67,230
Massachusetts
$176,680
$69,100
Delaware
$173,510
$65,270
Colorado
$168,520
$77,600
Connecticut
$163,600
$62,940
New Jersey
$161,430
$61,930
Washington
$154,130
$66,440
Nevada
$150,510
$71,050
Alaska
$149,940
$75,960
Rhode Island
$138,960
$63,300
Oregon
$138,210
$76,930
Utah
$132,830
$62,210
New Hampshire
$120,810
$62,090
Idaho
$103,400
$61,730
West Virginia
$102,420
$77,230

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Lawyerss or Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss?

Lawyerss earn more nationally. The median is $159,670 for Lawyerss versus $58,650 for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss, a difference of $101K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Lawyers or Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Lawyers or Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?

Lawyers typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers requires doctoral or professional degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Lawyerss get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Lawyerss at $207,860/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Lawyers vs. Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Lawyerss earn $195,080 vs. $67,230 for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Lawyers salary breakdownView →Full Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Lawyerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss by take-home payExplore →How to become a lawyersGuide →How to become a title examiners, abstractors, and searchersGuide →